The President Roh Tae-woo officially opened the Games of the 24 Olympiad at the new 100,000-seat Olympic stadium.

North Korea boycotted the Games because the IOC refused North Korean demand to co-host the Games. Cuba and Ethiopia stayed home in support of North Korea.

The doping disqualification of sprinter from Canada Ben Johnson after his victory in the 100m sprint in the world record time of 9.79.

New rules allowed professional athletes to compete in individual sports and leaders of world tennis could participate in the Games. Steffi Graf of FRG, added the gold medal to her tennis Grand Slam title in 1988.

Christa Luding-Rothenburger from GDR, who earlier in February 1988 won a speed skating gold medal at the Calgary Winter Olympic games, became the first athlete who won Summer and Winter Olympic medals in the same year, when she won silver in the track cycling sprint.